Methods and apparatus for generating magnetic fields

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide devices, systems, and techniques for generating a magnetic field pattern that includes a plurality of magnetic poles. In specific embodiments, a magnetic device is disclosed which generates a magnetic field pattern including two magnetic poles of the same polarity on both ends, or sides of the magnetic device, and a third magnetic pole of a different polarity from the other two magnetic poles, wherein the third magnetic pole is located inside the magnetic device and between the other two magnetic poles. Moreover, the magnetic device is configured with two openings located at the two transition boundaries/interfaces of the three-pole magnetic field. As such, the two transition boundaries become accessible to objects. In particular, when another magnet is inserted at an interface between two magnetic poles, the magnet will “register” right at the interface and hover over or be suspended at the opening of the magnetic device.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A magnetic device, comprising:
 a base that includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and an inner wall and an outer wall that are sandwiched between the upper surface and the lower surface,
 wherein the upper surface includes a first opening defined by the upper edge of the inner wall, the lower surface includes a second opening defined by the lower edge of the inner wall; and 
 wherein the base further includes a set of magnet placement locations between the inner wall and the outer wall, and arranged around the base; and 
   a set of magnets placed around the inner wall, such that each of the magnets is placed at a magnet placement location among the set of magnet placement locations, wherein each of the magnets is positioned such that an axis of the magnet connecting the north pole and the south pole of the magnet forms an angle with respect to the upper and lower surfaces,   wherein the set of magnets generates three primary fields: a first field of a first polarity formed substantially between the upper surface and the lower surface inside the base, a second field of a second polarity formed outward from the first opening of the base and on a first side of the first field, and a third field of the second polarity formed outward from the second opening of the base and on a second side of the first field opposite to the first side.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the set of magnet placement locations includes two locations. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the set of magnet placement locations includes three or more locations. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the set of magnets is a continuous magnetic structure around the inner wall. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of each of the magnet placement locations is thinner than a lower portion of the magnet placement location. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein each magnet within the set of magnets includes a surface in the vicinity of the inner wall which has an angular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the set of magnet placement locations are substantially flat on the inner wall and configured to accommodate surface mounting magnets. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the region of magnetic influence of the second field can be significantly larger than the region of magnetic influence of the third field. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , the sizes and geometries of the first and second openings are configured to control the region of magnetic influence of each of the second field and the third field. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the north pole of each magnet faces the center of the base whereas the south pole of the magnet faces away from the center of the base; and   wherein the first field of the first polarity is magnetic south and wherein the second field and the third field of the second polarity is magnetic north.   
     
     
         11 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the south pole of each magnet faces the center of the base whereas the north pole of the magnet faces away from the center of the base; and   wherein the first field of the first polarity is magnetic north and wherein the second field and the third field of the second polarity is magnetic south.   
     
     
         12 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first pole of the magnet facing the center of the base is positioned closer to the upper surface of the base while the second pole of the magnet facing away from the center of the base is positioned closer to the lower surface of the base. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the angle formed between the axis of the magnet connecting the north pole and the south pole of the magnet, and the upper and lower surfaces is between 0 and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the base has a parabolic shape or an angled shape. 
     
     
         15 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of each magnet has a parabolic shape, an angular shape or a flat shape. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first field of the first polarity is located substantially within the space surrounded by the first opening, the second opening, and the inner wall. 
     
     
         17 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein a first transition boundary between the first field of the first polarity and the second field of the second polarity is in the vicinity of the first opening of the base, and wherein a second transition boundary between the first field and the third field of the second polarity is in the vicinity of the second opening of the base. 
     
     
         18 . The magnetic device of  claim 17 , wherein each of the first and second transition boundaries is accessible to an object such that when a magnet is inserted at the first or the second transition boundary, the magnet hovers or registers at the transition boundary. 
     
     
         19 . The magnetic device of  claim 18 , wherein the magnetic device is configured such that if a pressure is applied to the hovering magnet and then released, the magnet inclines to return to substantially the same location. 
     
     
         20 . The magnetic device of  claim 18 , wherein the combination of the magnet and the magnetic device is used to create transducers, valves, speakers, microphones, and pumps. 
     
     
         21 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , each of the magnets is a permanent magnet, an electromagnetic magnet, a superconducting magnet, or a combination of the above. 
     
     
         22 . The magnetic device of  claim 1 , wherein the base further includes a gap formed into the solid ring structure of the base which connects the space in the center of the base and the space outside the base. 
     
     
         23 . A device for propelling a magnetic object from a first location to a second location, comprising:
 a first magnetic field generator configured to generate a first magnetic field pattern comprising a first magnetic field of a first polarity, and a second magnetic field and a third magnetic field both of a second polarity and located on either side of the first magnetic field; and   a second magnetic field generator coupled in series with the first magnetic field generator and configured to generate a second magnetic field pattern which is substantially identical to the first magnetic field pattern,   wherein the first and the second magnetic field patterns form a combined linear field pattern having first-second-first-first-second-first polarities, and wherein the combined linear field pattern causes a magnetic object to enter from a first end of the combined linear field pattern, traverse each of the magnetic field in the combined linear field pattern, and exit from a second end of the combined linear field pattern, as a result of the magnetic interaction between the magnetic object and the combined linear field pattern.   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the first polarity is magnetic north and the second polarity is magnetic south. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the first polarity is magnetic south and the second polarity is magnetic north. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein each of the first and second magnetic field generators comprises:
 a base including an upper surface, a lower surface, and an inner wall and an outer wall that are sandwiched between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the upper surface includes a first opening defined by the upper edge of the inner wall, the lower surface includes a second opening defined by the lower edge of the inner wall; and   a set of magnets placed to cover a portion of the inner wall, wherein each of the magnets is positioned such that an axis of the magnet connecting the north pole and the south pole of the magnet forms an angle with respect to the upper and lower surfaces.   
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the set of magnets are placed inside a set of recessed locations within the inner wall of the base. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the set of magnets are mounted on the surface of the inner wall of the base. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein each of the set of magnets located in or around the inner wall has a trapezoid, circular, square, and/or triangular geometry. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the set of magnets includes two or more magnets. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the first magnetic field of a first polarity is formed substantially between the upper surface and the lower surface inside the base, the second magnetic field of the second polarity is formed outward from the first opening of the base, and the third magnetic field of the second polarity is formed outward from the second opening of the base and on the opposite side of the first magnetic field. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 26 , further comprising one or more additional magnetic field generators coupled in series with the first and second magnetic field generators and configured to generate one or more additional magnetic field patterns which are substantially identical to the first and second magnetic field patterns. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the first, the second, and the one or more additional magnetic field generators form a linear array for propelling the magnetic object in a linear path. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 32 , wherein the first, the second, and the one or more additional magnetic field generators form a circular array for propelling the magnetic object in a circular path.